News
Some Common-Sense Steps in Dealing with Target Security Breach
By: Associated Press, WOUB Contributing Writer
Posted on:
Update 1/10/2014 2:50 PM
There's no magic in dealing with Target's information security breach but there are some common-sense approaches to keep money from leaking out of your bank account.
Ohio University IT Communications Manager Sean O'Malley advises to do the things you should be doing regardless of a security issue:
- Keep an eye on your statements. Look at purchased items to make sure they're things you have purchased or authorized.
- Know who you're dealing with.
In Target's case O'Malley says it's a reputable business so those who used cards there already knew the company but in some cases businesses aren't as well known.
In those cases he advises caution.
Target's pre-Christmas data breach compromised as many as 70 million customer accounts, far more than the earlier estimate of 40 million Target had said were affected.
Target says that personal information – including phone numbers and email and mailing addresses – was stolen from as many as 70 million customers in its pre-Christmas data breach. That was substantially more customers than Target had previously said were affected.
The chain also cut its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings forecast and outlook for a key sales barometer.
Target had announced in December that about 40 million credit and debit cards may have been affected by a data breach that happened between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 – just as the holiday shopping season was getting into gear.
The retailer said Friday that the personal information stolen is not a new breach, but was discovered during its ongoing investigation.
Target Corp.'s stock fell in Friday premarket trading.